Newt Gingrich campaign asks state GOP to not seat Stacey Campfield as delegate

KNOXVILLE — Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign has asked the Tennessee Republican Party's State Executive Committee to not seat Knoxville state Sen. Stacey Campfield as a Gingrich delegate at the national convention.

Campfield, who served as a state co-chair for Gingrich's campaign, abruptly switched his support to Rick Santorum days before the March 6 "Super Tuesday" election.

"Please be advised that Senator Stacey Campfield does not have the consent of the Newt Gingrich for President Campaign to be seated as a delegate at the Republican National Convention," wrote John Fluharty, the campaign's director of delegate access, in a Thursday letter to the state GOP committee.

"As a matter of information, Senator Campfield, while originally qualifying as a delegate candidate for Speaker Gingrich, waited until early voting had concluded in Tennessee to publicly disavow his commitment to Speaker Gingrich and announce his endorsement of another candidate for President.

"This mislead all the Tennesseans who voted early. His actions resulted in Tennesseans who supported Newt Gingrich erroneously voting for a delegate candidate they believed would support Speaker Gingrich throughout the nominating process. The campaign has requested that Senator Campfield resign his position as a delegate. He has chosen to refuse our request."

The letter further states: "I hope you will also agree that Tennessee Republicans deserve to have representation that respects the nominating process and will discharge their duties at the convention in a sober and reasonable manner.

"On behalf of Speaker Gingrich, I ask that you vote to remove Senator Stacey Campfield from the rolls of the Tennessee delegation so we may appoint someone who will vote in accordance with the wishes of the people of Tennessee. ... The people of Tennessee deserve to have their vote for the Speaker count at the Republican Nominating Convention. The only way to make that happen is by allowing us to replace Senator Campfield."